The electoral connection thesis asserts that elections serve to constrain the elected officer’s activities in Washington. The incumbent who fails to represent constituent interests and preferences is presumed to gain less electoral support in the next election. In this regard, it is reasonable to believe that elected officers beholden for the desire for holding office unquestionably fear losing elections by taking positions against the preferences of constituencies on important issues. How do voters have information concerning legislative voting sufficient to keep their representatives accountable by rewarding and/or punishing them on the basis of ideological representation in Congress? Do you think that reelection consideration is the principal theoretical ground to link constituent preferences to legislative voting behavior? Is there something else besides self-interest that might explain the voting patterns in Congress?

Discuss the importance of adhering to the APA code of ethics in regard to conducting studies and publishing research. Consider the study you are proposing and review the APA code of ethics. What ethical considerations do you need to make to ensure the safety of your participants?

What is meant by social cognition (including cognitive social psychology and the social psychology of cognition? Research suggests that sometimes our own behavior, and that of others, can leave us completely mystified. Describe an example (in detail) about a recent time you felt mystified by your own or someone else’s behavior and provide some reasons from social psychology on how you might interpret that behavior. Remember the unique levels of analysis that we use – context, culture, gender, etc.

Discuss how the psychological concept of perceptual set might impact how an individual perceives the scenario below.  Your older brother wants to make a chocolate dessert for your stepmother’s birthday, and you eagerly agree to help.  The recipe calls for unsweetened baker’s chocolate and you decide to trick your 5-year-old stepsister by offering her a taste of the whipped chocolate in the bowl.  She excitedly dips her finger in!

Describe and define the mere exposure effect.  Include information about how, when, and why, it does and doesn’t work. Generate two examples – one where you feel that you came to like a person, object, or entity due to mere exposure, and the second, an example of something you dislike so strongly that no amount of exposure will change your attitude, or perhaps even make it worse.  Again, be detailed and specific.